Tanchjim’s newest flagship DD IEM is called The Origin. Nearly five years have passed since the company’s Oyxgen IEM became a success. Is there any remnant of that initial magic in the Origin?

Introduction

For those who are unaware, Tanchj im is the somewhat older brother of Moondrop, the well-known Chi-Fi brand that has made a name for itself with deliberate tuning and anime imagery. In the same way, Tanchjim’s products have typically commanded a premium price point, with their 2019 single, DD Oxygen, serving as their main attraction.

Since the Oxygen’s release, the brand’s performance has been hit or miss, so when I heard they were producing a replacement called the Origin ($260 USD), I was cautiously excited. It’s time to see (or rather, hear) how it all adds up.

Tanchjim sent this unit for review. As usual, the following represents my sincere thoughts as accurately as possible.

In-the-Box

• Carry case with magnetic clasp
• 2-pin 0.78mm cable
• Ear tips s/m/l wide-bore and narrow bore
• 3x swappable filters

The Origin’s casing is secured with a magnetic clasp. Although the cable is quite thin, it feels reasonably well-made and has a lovely, clear coating over the conductors.

In comparison to the majority of Tanchjim’s other sleek IEMs, the Origin has a notably bigger shell. Much of this variation might be attributed to the Origin’s nozzle base, which appears to have been extended in order to accommodate its interchangeable nozzles. I wouldn’t say this affected my comfort level with the Origin, though, given Tanchjim’s other IEMs are already rather small; this might only be a problem if you have smaller ears.

Sound Analysis

Since the swappable nozzles are limited in their functionality, let’s briefly go over them. Depending on whether you want the treble response to be brighter or darker, they subtly alter it. Since I felt they were the ideal balance, I ultimately decided to stick with the standard ones.

Measurements off of the clone IEC-711:

Tanchjim Origin: Back to Basics?

Tanchjim’s newest flagship DD IEM is called The Origin. Nearly five years have passed since the company’s Oyxgen IEM became a success. Is there any remnant of that initial magic in the Origin?

Introduction

For those who are unaware, Tanchjim is the somewhat older brother of Moondrop, the well-known Chi-Fi brand that has made a name for itself with deliberate tuning and anime imagery. In the same way, Tanchjim’s products have typically commanded a premium price point, with their 2019 single, DD Oxygen, serving as their main attraction.

Since the Oxygen’s release, the brand’s performance has been hit or miss, so when I heard they were producing a replacement called the Origin ($260 USD), I was cautiously excited. It’s time to see (or rather, hear) how it all adds up.

Tanchjim sent this unit for review. As usual, the following represents my sincere thoughts as accurately as possible.

In-the-Box

• Carry case with magnetic clasp
• 2-pin 0.78mm cable
• Ear tips s/m/l wide-bore and narrow bore
• 3x swappable filters

The Origin’s casing is secured with a magnetic clasp. Although the cable is quite thin, it feels reasonably well-made and has a lovely, clear coating over the conductors.

In comparison to the majority of Tanchjim’s other sleek IEMs, the Origin has a notably bigger shell. Much of this variation might be attributed to the Origin’s nozzle base, which appears to have been extended in order to accommodate its interchangeable nozzles. I wouldn’t say this affected my comfort level with the Origin, though, given Tanchjim’s other IEMs are already rather small; this might only be a problem if you have smaller ears.

Sound Analysis

Since the swappable nozzles are limited in their functionality, let’s briefly go over them. Depending on whether you want the treble response to be brighter or darker, they subtly alter it. Since I felt they were the ideal balance, I ultimately decided to stick with the standard ones.

Measurements off of the clone IEC-711:

IEMs that are frequently adjusted for Asian audiences seem to be a major source of inspiration for the Origin’s tuning. I may be generalizing, but manufacturers have a tendency to tune their products roughly, especially if East Asian consumers are their target market. This tuning style is bright, upper-midrange heavy, and centered on the mid-bass. Although I must admit that I’ve never been a fan of these tunings, the Origin presents a decent challenge to my preferences.

This, in my opinion, would boil down to a few differentiators:

1 Mid-bass still contributes a respectable amount of “boom” to the bass. The bass has a quicker sense to it and the Origin does not growl too much.
2 The upper midrange never quite verges on being overtly “shouty.” The focus on mid-bass keeps the male vocals rather warm.
3 For a dynamic driver IEM, the Origin’s treble is really impressive. Up to around 15 kHz before curving off, it has substantially better extension than other single-DDs (such Tanchjim’s own Oxygen and the well-liked Moondrop single-DDs). It is also incredibly smooth.

The most remarkable aspect of the Origin is its technical acumen. To my ears, it has a fantastic sense of resolve. Female vocals take center stage thanks to the concentration on the upper midrange. Furthermore, IEMs that use this kind of tuning approach usually sound harsh, even gritty, to me; the Origin, on the other hand, sounds smooth and has an extended treble response. The edges of the midrange notes have a faint sharpness that has a natural, slightly textured sound.

As is customary with Tanchjim, the Origin’s imaging performance is outstanding in terms of the soundstage’s width and the presentation’s general openness. On the Origin, instrumental tracks are very enjoyable to listen to, particularly those that pan instruments to the corners.

It’s also likely that listeners who index for dynamic range—volume variations and an IEM’s capacity to sound explosive—will be impressed. Because of the Origin’s absence of sub-bass and its silky midrange and treble response, listeners may turn up the volume without getting too tired.

The Origin has an amazing understanding of technical details, so I don’t even need to add the caveat that it’s “for a dynamic driver.” It easily competes, in my opinion, with many multi-BA or hybrid IEMs that I have heard for around $500.

Comparison

It makes sense to contrast the Origin with other “powerhouse” dynamic driver IEMs in order to highlight its technical performance. A venerable first choice is the JVC HA-FDX1. All things considered, I think the Origin prevails handily, and this is a unique example of the appreciable advancements in single-DD technology. An even more contemporary choice would be the Thieaudio Elixir.

The Sennheiser IEMs, such as the IE200/600/900, adopt a distinct methodology in comparison to the Origin. These IEMs, in contrast, have more mid-treble and more relaxed upper-midranges, which provide an exuberant U-shaped response. This makes listeners seeking for powerful bass and dazzling treble to choose Sennheiser IEMs, especially the IE600 and IE900. However, as anyone who has listened to the Sennheiser IEMs will attest, their soundstage perception is mediocre at best. At this point, the Origin significantly outperforms the competition and provides similar detail as well.

And lastly, how could one overlook oxygen? Even while I don’t currently possess an Oxygen, GizAudio graciously gave me a Hana 2021, which has an extremely similar sound. The Origin is definitely a step up in terms of treble extension and resolution, and it’s a slight step up in terms of soundstage, in my opinion. However, the Origin won’t take the place of the Hana 2021 if you’re a listener who prefers a deep bass response.

The Bottom Line

I may have written more on The Origin, an IEM, in the past. It fills a niche elegantly and does a number of things well. However, a niche market by definition has a limited appeal, and I doubt that the Origin’s audience is big enough to make a lasting impression like that of its predecessor, the Oxygen. Additionally, it’s not an easy upgrade from the Tanchjim Oxygen.

Who is this intended for then? The Origin, in my opinion, is intended for listeners who desire excellent technical performance in a dependable package. It’s also the ideal IEM for those who, in the past, may have wanted to enjoy comparable tuning flavors but were turned off by subpar implementation.